text:
Avg: 4.1knts
24hr: 97.5nm
Avg: 8.8knts
24hr: 210.9nm
8.8 wow..you're flying home.
Avg: 3.4knts
24hr: 80.9nm
Avg: 7.5knts
24hr: 180.2nm
Avg: 51.4knts
24hr: 1234.3nm
Avg: 7.2knts
24hr: 172.9nm
Avg: 6.6knts
24hr: 158.9nm
Avg: 7.8knts
24hr: 187.8nm
Cleared in with customs, got a full health and saftey biosecurity quarantine blah blah check and we are free to go!
Set sail for Whangarei and sailed like a cut cat. The coastal trip was incredible sailing with 2m rolling swell that we could time just right and surf for something like 10-20 seconds at a time. We were regularly hitting speeds up to 15 knots in water that felt flat - thats ridiculously fast for our boat. It was an amazing sail.
We are now parked up right smack in front of a huge container ship on the Marsden Wharf. We are 2 boat lengths in front of him, but he is 180 meters long, so you could actually park 5 747-400 jets in between us. They would sink, and that would be a waste of some great aircraft, but you get the point :)
The little bees are busily loading logs on board, reminding us that there is this thing called primary industry that so many of us are completely ignorant to.
There is a hot shower calling out.
Avg: 5.4knts
24hr: 130.1nm
We recieved a standing ovation from a large group of cruisers dining at the Opua Cruising club... which broke my concentration and caused me to do one of the worst docking attempts of my life... in front of 100 sailors watching on for entertainment. It really wasnt that bad, but my pride was hurt and I sulked around for a while, upset that my moment of glory had passed me by, and left me standing in a cow pattie with my shorts on the wrong way.
Oh well.
Five and a half days from New Caledonia to NZ. Not bad. The weather was pretty much as we expected and we wouldn't do it any differently. It was a fun trip. �Sorry, what did I just say?
I think ocean sailing is a bit like golf. Sometimes you hate it and you swear you are going to give up after this one, but then you hit a sweet drive down the fairway that makes you feel like a champion - golf is suddenly a fantastic game again. Then you lose a few balls and start grumbling, but next weekend all you can remember is the simple solitude and gentle excersise and cant wait to get out there again. I think hindsight wears rose coloured glasses.
We will be heading off to Whangarei as soon as we can.
Avg: 7.5knts
24hr: 180nm
Welcome Home guys. Wonderful
Avg: 7.9knts
24hr: 189.6nm
oops, no wait, that was actually a heavily laden container ship. Through our binoculars, it appears that Santas sleigh will bring some wet presents this year! We've never seen a ship so heavily laden!
Many hours later... "Land ahoy!" "Again!" ...but actually, probably actually land this time!
Shell says she can smell the land. My mind is cast back to childhood, cold mornings, the frost would crunch under hardened bare feet and we would stand in cow patties to warm our feet. Yep, thats the smell... In the tropics it smells sweet and smokey as the fires burn away the trash or prepare meals or burn coconut fronds. Here in Northland, it is the earthy scent of farmed land, it is rural New Zealand and it tells us we have arrived!
People and politics cast long shadows on a country, but from our vantage point there is no sign of either and we just enjoy the beauty of the land. Headlands emerge from the sea, small mountains appear through the haze and become green as we creep close enough to see colour.
It is a beautiful country, its name is printed on the stern of our boat, it is the new land in the sea.�
It is ours.
We are blessed.
Avg: 9005.6knts
24hr: 216135.5nm
Meanwhile, the stereo continues to blast and we clean, write, plan and sail! We are blessed indeed.
This e-mail was delivered via satellite phone using Iridium Mail & Web software. Please be kind and keep your replies short.
Thrilled for you. Xx
Avg: 7knts
24hr: 168nm
Looks like you might be in
Avg: 6.1knts
24hr: 146.4nm
Hi Libertalians. Can't tell
Avg: 5.6knts
24hr: 135.3nm
Its actually mildly inconvieniant and we are having to sail the angles. (Remember when everyone had the briefest understanding of VMG when the Amercias Cup, God rest its soul, was happening?) So, a northerly or Nor easter would give us better VMG, but we're not complaining! Today is a big day... tonight, after 5 days of sailing, we are going change tack! Yeah baby, if this were windward leewards, we'd be getting ready to round the bottom mark with all the other boats yelling about buoy room and who has rights and �Starboard� and "Get outta there!"... yep, the addrenelin would be pumping, the senses keen, the body ready for action! It's going to be a bit like that, but only a little bit� When the time is right, I'll have to put down my miloffee, don my lifejacket, meander around the boat making sure everything will run smoothly, release the barber hauler, wander back to the helm, stretch, yawn, stroke my 5 day shadow, and steer the boat through the wind with my foot as my hands pull on some ropes. In fact, to be honest, I'll probably start the engine an hour before hand and roll the headsail away to make things easier. We will be gybing in a passing weak front. It will be raining, and I expect the wind will be a bit all over the place for a while.
...and remember, we haven't changed tack at all in the last 120 hours of sailing - we're out of practice! With a little luck (always useful out here), there will be no yelling and there will not be a boat within 100 miles to see us make our turn. I think I'll call for water anyway.
I recall that I'm supposed to remember our non sailing audience when I write. Our audience is comprised of Mum1 and Mum2 - seriously, Shell calls it the battle of the Mums :-P. ...but today, I write, mainly for my own enjoyment, and the whole parallel of the way cruisers and racers sail is a subject of some amusement for me. Both are sailors, but much in the same way that lawn bowls and kickboxing are both sports.
I told Dave (Yeah, I know there's non Mums out there secretly watching!) that I was going to try and make it all the way to NZ without tacking. Given that a downwind gybe is not a tack, I think we're still on target! I'm hereby creating an award for a boat that reaches NZ from another country without ever tacking! The prize is a mystery, but it will be awarded by Libertalias admiral, who shall also give the winner a kiss! BoooYaah! Oh, and all is well aboard and we�re alive and all that other stuff.
This e-mail was delivered via satellite phone using Iridium Mail & Web software. Please be kind and keep your replies short.
Avg: 4.8knts
24hr: 114nm
We have formally notified nz customs that we are coming, so maybe the Orion will not buzz us, but we hope it does.
It's always odd seeing birds way out here. What are they doing? Where do they sleep? I picked up a dehydrated flying fish from the cockpit and threw it towards a bird this morning, but he paid no heed. Clearly not hungry.
All is well aboard.
This e-mail was delivered via satellite phone using Iridium Mail & Web software. Please be kind and keep your replies short.
Avg: 8.2knts
24hr: 196.8nm
Good morning Crew, you have
Avg: 8.3knts
24hr: 198.9nm
Great to see you moving along
Avg: 8.5knts
24hr: 203.1nm
The work around for the autopilot is fine. It means lots more work for me, and we can't sail as efficiently, but it basically works and I would never want to do this two handed without an auto pilot! It's a bit bumpy and despite the sea calming down a bit, we still have waves that are still crashing over us occasionally. That's just ocean sailing.
The idea of sitting back and reflecting after everything is clean and dry and tidy is very warming. Speaking of warming, the sun popped out of the clouds briefly, earlier today, just to let us know he really was out there somewhere.
We have been fantasizing about the simple pleasures of living on land and might just splash out on a hotel room to enjoy having a bath! ...Or watching tv and using unlimited high speed internet and ordering room service - it all seems so luxurious from here! All is well, we are on target to reach nz while all the good boys and girls are sleeping on Saturday night or Sunday morning.
Thx for your messages, its always nice to hear from home when we are surrounded by a thousand miles of cold ocean.
Cherio! This e-mail was delivered via satellite phone using Iridium Mail & Web software. Please be kind and keep your replies short.
Avg: 6.4knts
24hr: 153.6nm
Our complaints come from the number of unpredictable things that have gone wrong since we departed, and a couple of small things that we kick ourselves for not inspecting more thoroughly.
The real kicker that almost had us crying and running to Norfolk Island was when the Autopilot died. We wrestled with it on and off and even considered running back to New Cal while we were still close... It tricked us into thinking it had just got upset by a rogue wave, but then a few hours later it packed a sad again.
The Admiral hand steered in rough sea while the Captain pulled at his hair and some cables, fiddled with switches and prayed for divine intervention. He even had a sleep to see if that would somehow help. It did! I found a simple solution that seems to be working well and actually spilt a tear or two as the pressure, exhaustion and emotion of it all came to a end.
The tech boys in NZ will replace something and everything will be golden eventually, but for now we have something that works and we don't have to endure steering by hand 24 x 7! Hooray! My admiration for Michelle bubbles over in situations that have the potential to get the better off me. She is an absolute trooper who just puts her head down and pushes on with patient endurance. There is no one else I would rather sail two handed across an ocean with.
This e-mail was delivered via satellite phone using Iridium Mail & Web software. Please be kind and keep your replies short.
Proud of you guys, hang on in
So glad you have been able to
Avg: 2.6knts
24hr: 62.4nm
Z & S and libertalia...you
Have a safe journey back to
Safe Journies Shelly & Zane.
We'll be leaving early Monday morning in a blow and heading out into the wide blue sea... Its promising to be a pretty bumpy start, and generally a little rougher than we would like the whole way actually, but its the best window in the next 10 days or so and crossing oceans has never been a gentlemans sport anyway!
Watch this space for the official departure notification on Monday, and then hopefully daily updates as we cross the big blue!
Avg: 3.6knts
24hr: 86.4nm
<p>Care package left at
Thanks for update. Good luck
The video is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=alGk20taFV0
I watched your video whilst
Hi kids...I see you are back
Avg: 3.7knts
24hr: 89.4nm
This e-mail was delivered via satellite phone using Iridium Mail & Web software. Please be kind and keep your replies short.
We sailed for pleasure today... didn't really have to be anywhere or go anywhere... just went for a light air sail... for fun! :)
How refreshing to have a "for
It's a pretty unique spot with deep clear water - we can see our chain snaking along the sand 15m below. We took a while to find a spot that was clear enough to drop our hook, but now we're very happy here. We're parked in front of some steep steps that rise up into the cliffs and will lead us to the village of Doking. The caves are something else - deep caves with stalactites (or mites?). We are outside one that�looks like a huge shark with his mouth wide open!�We're off to find the local chief this morning to partake in the custom of offering a gift and asking permission to be parked on his lawn. I get the feeling the don't really care in this particular village, but they certainly do in Ouvea, so it will be good practice :)
PS - Just took a quick photo that didn't turn out too well, but will add anyway... I took the photo to show how clear the water was and noticed our anchor chain, 15 meters below has gone behind an enormous coral mountain. No worries, we can see so clearly, we will just drive the boat in the right direction to avoid doing any damage to the ecosystem.
Great photos and prose. Hope
Avg: 17knts
24hr: 409.1nm
The wind was further forward than forecast - it's odd how often this is the case. However, our planned flat sea reach became a comfortable beat and we sailed on the same tack until we ran out of wind at the bottom of Lifou and motored the rest of the way. We finally arrived at Baie Du Chateaubriand - or the town of We... and more importantly, the only supermarket for a hundered miles! We inspected the reef by sight and by drone and could find no way through and no comfortable place to anchor, so we resigned to using the local marina. The little marina was deserted and the office is not answering the VHF or telephone. A local directed us to tie up in one of only two available berths and we sent him on his way with a thank you Pepsi, and some of the donated kids toys and books that we are carrying.
Michelle would like to add that she found the entire process of 'inspecting the reef' and 'meandering about the marina' very stressful and was somewhat stressed and overwhelmed. I'm sure the fact that she was a little sleep deprived didn't help.
I suppose we should go and figure out how to get to the supermarket, but we're beat... I'm sure they'll be open tomorrow.
Found you easily today..
Found you easily today..
We entered a break in the
Wow..it took me ages to find
That is a very very very
Congratulations from the
Avg: 3.8knts
24hr: 90.7nm
Hello Libertalia! Just
Hey Lisa!
Haha that does sound like a
Avg: 7.8knts
24hr: 186.4nm
Great sailing guys!! See you
Avg: 56.5knts
24hr: 1354.9nm
Flags and joiners in hand.
Enjoyed the blog. You sure
Still following your journey.
You made it!!!! Woohoo.
I'm guessing you've cleared
Hello fellas good to find you
Avg: 5knts
24hr: 120nm
Paradise found...wow.
Avg: 6.3knts
24hr: 151.2nm
Hope you get to enjoy another
Avg: 4.6knts
24hr: 109.7nm
We are motoring / motorsailing in still air and will enter the lagoon through the northern Boulari Pass (Passe de Boulari Nord).
@ Lance, the Woodin Canal will have to wait for another day.
We are pushing hard to make the pass by 4.30pm which will give us a nice sunset cruise through the lagoon and allow us to anchor with some light and avoid the plethora of hazards we expect to find (mooring balls, unlit boats, fishing canoes, submarines, etc...).
All going well, we should be anchored (or maybe even tied-to) by 9pm NZST / 8pm local.
This e-mail was delivered via satellite phone using Iridium Mail & Web software. Please be kind and keep your replies short.
Avg: 6.7knts
24hr: 160.8nm
Wonderful to see your
Avg: 5knts
24hr: 120nm
Wow..nearly there. I've been
Avg: 6.9knts
24hr: 165.6nm
Hi Zane and Shell, Your
Avg: 3.1knts
24hr: 75.4nm
Avg: 6.6knts
24hr: 158.4nm
Great trucking..eyes on the
Avg: 5.6knts
24hr: 133.7nm
This e-mail was delivered via satellite phone using Iridium Mail & Web software. Please be kind and keep your replies short.
Avg: 4.9knts
24hr: 118.3nm
Great prose,pictures and
The morning has been filled with boat maintenance and cleaning. Basically sorting out the stuff that gets messed up when sailing in a blow. Shell went back up the mast again to sort out a wee tangle, and we got everything else back in order so we are ready for more boisterous weather. The forecast is for calm seas and decreasing wind, but it pays to be prepared anyway.
I've attached some photos which we hope are still good enough to see despite our aggressive satelite software compression.
The engine drones on, but we spent a lot of time & money getting those babies in ship shape and we are motoring faster and more economically than ever A big up side is that we now have lots of hot water.
Today... is shower day! :) We will descend into the hull as tired and salty dogs, but will emerge again as clean cut civilised folk, ready for an aperitif and canapes.
This place is fantastic. You should really visit! The weather is stunning, and the people are quite remarkable. The middle of the pacific ocean is a wonderful place to be! This e-mail was delivered via satellite phone using Iridium Mail & Web software. Please be kind and keep your replies short.
Avg: 5.6knts
24hr: 135.2nm
Today the Pacific Ocean is laying it out for us. The pessimist would moan that there isn't quite enough wind to fill the sails, but there is only a realist and an optimist aboard this ship!
The sun is gloriously shining down and drying out the foul weather gear so it can be stored away for the coming months. The sea is calm and only a gentle half meter swell is rolling under us, providing a gentle push as we motor sail toward our destination.
The morning has been filled with boat maintenance and cleaning. Basically sorting out the stuff that gets messed
when sailing in a blow. Shell went back up the mast again to sort out a wee tangle, and we got everything else back in order so we are ready for more boisterous weather. The forecast is for calm seas and decreasing wind, but it pays to be prepared anyway.
I've attached some photos which we hope are still good enough to see despite our aggressive satelite software compression.
The engine drones on, but we spent a lot of time & money getting those babies in ship shape and we are motoring faster and more economically than ever
A big up side is that we now have lots of hot water.
Today... is shower day! :)
We will descend into the hull as tired and salty dogs, but will emerge again as clean cut civilised folk, ready for an aperitif and canapes.
This place is fantastic. You should really visit! The weather is stunning, and the people are quite remarkable.
The middle of the pacific ocean is a wonderful place to be!
Avg: 5.8knts
24hr: 139.2nm
Will try to do a proper update later today with pictures! Ann & Bob, wherever you are, we have been thinking about you this morning. Please teleport Charisma over to New Caledonia and we can have sundowners in a quite anchorage somewhere :) This e-mail was delivered via satellite phone using Iridium Mail & Web software. Please be kind and keep your replies short.
Avg: 6.1knts
24hr: 145.9nm
Good morning Team Trevarton.
Avg: 14knts
24hr: 336nm
We were messing around in the light air and arguing about something now long forgotten.
Things went clank and clunk .
We rescued 3 sheaves, and one went in the drink. Locktite clearly required for the screw that holds all that in place. Replacement part will be fitted in Noumea.
We removed the outhaul (rope that pulls the corner of the sail out and down) and set up a jury rigged one.
Something else went clunk, "ooh i see it...", splash! We messed around some more, gave up and started to put the sails away. (It's down to 5 knots out here, so Dave you were right) Shell went up the mast to fetch a rope that had decided to magically go awol. Honestly, it was magic! Upon inspection, the bowline was still tied securely and the shackle it was tied to was securely in place AND mouse tied (locked) with a cable tie. Houdini did it!?! ...And, as is always the case, it all happens in the dead of night .
All is well that ends well.
Moral of the story, if you don't want things to go wrong, don't leave your house, otherwise just learn to handle the jandall. And it helps to have a good team mate! The engine is running and I'm off to bed (again) This e-mail was delivered via satellite phone using Iridium Mail & Web software. Please be kind and keep your replies short.
Sorry you have issued but
Hi seafarers.You're making
Good to see you are not
Hi Guys! Glad all is going
Avg: 7.8knts
24hr: 187.2nm
Thanks for the very
Avg: 6.3knts
24hr: 151.4nm
The morning has greeted us with a warm sunshine and slightly lighter winds, and a more mild sea state. The temperature is noticeably warmer. The fish are even jumping on board to sunbathe (and then die). The breakfast menu was delicious as usual and it is wonderful to be able to eat properly on passage! Usually the sea kinda sucks the life out of us and we seldom feel like doing anything thats not completely necessary... and eating is certainly optional.
Passage making (sailing for days on end) is a lot like mountain climbing. Its a whole lot of tiring uncomfortable slog interspersed with moments of enjoyment and beauty... but you do it for the prize that comes at the end! We had some bigger waves last night which are fun to watch as they roll away, and it keeps the salt from crystalising too much when they crash over the boat every now and then. They really do make you feel small. One of our 'Homeless' Viking friends made a wise statement recently when we were discussing the size of their 27 ocean crossing foot boat. "We are all small out there!" she said. We all nodded.
We've left the strong winds behind now and are slowly turning towards Noumea. The next 48 hours or so will make for some tricky sailing conditions. We're expecting 10-15 knots and the wind will move to our aft quarter, but be constantly shifting... and of course we're expecting the major shifts to happen in the dead of night! Sailing dead down wind is slow and sloppy unless we put sails out both sides and steer by hand, which is a high concentration job that gets tiring quickly. We dont trust the autopilot to do it safely. Long story short, we will end up sailing the angles to maintain some speed even if it is not quite the direction. It will look a bit like we're beating up wind, but its the opposite, and much more pleasant! A well rested tactician with a fresh mind woud have some fun making the calls over the next few days, but I'm too tired for much more of that malarkey.
Oh, my kingdom for a Spinnaker! A big welcome to Scott, Kath, Case, Indie, & Joel who made it to NZ just as we were leaving it. Sorry we missed you.
Thanks for your comments, its nice to hear from home while we're out here climbing our way to the mountain peak! This e-mail was delivered via satellite phone using Iridium Mail & Web software. Please be kind and keep your replies short.
Avg: 9.1knts
24hr: 218.4nm
Thanks to you guys my
Avg: 9.4knts
24hr: 225.6nm
Missed You!
Avg: 9.2knts
24hr: 220.8nm
What a great run guys. A
Avg: 13.5knts
24hr: 324nm
Wow sounds amazing guys. Glad
Wonderful to hear from your
Avg: 6.4knts
24hr: 153.6nm
Oddly, the wind decided to take a break for breakfast. I had a delicious ham & eggs on vogels and Shell had some crackers with various bits of red and green things on top. It was a kind thought for the wind to give us a break, but the waves are still coming, so we just slowed down and slopped around a bit more. Speed is our friend! We are reefed for 25-30 knots, so we might put a bit more sail up while both of us are awake.... or we might not. Next job for me is some weather analysis and planning, and then it will be time for a kip.
Shell has isolated and secured most of the things that were banging and crashing around so feels much better about the general state of things.
Cherio for now! Us.
Avg: 10knts
24hr: 240nm
That boat bottom must be be
Farewell cold, farewell flat whites, farewell family & friends...
Farewell NZ!
Thanks for coming out way
Godspeed Zane and Shell :-)
just got home a few mins ago.
Avg: 4.9knts
24hr: 117.6nm
It's nice to know you are not
Zane managed to slip on the ice (aka frost) and bruise/break/crack a rib or two... the only prescribed treatment is painkillers and rest which has been re-interpreted as painkillers and 'boat jobs'.
We hatched a plan to spend the night in Whangarei town basin tonight, have a celebration dinner and then whip off to the Bay of Islands at the crack of dawn... and then maybe, just maybe head for New Caledonia on Thursday.
It was all looking like a good plan until it wasn't :). A technical issue has meant we had to send a part off to Auckland for repair, so we will take a few days here and get ourselves re-organised before heading north again.
We are conveniently parked a boot toss away from a restaurant that has recently re-opened, so we will treat ourselves out tonight and celebrate 9 years of marriage (in a row!), and thirty something years since Zane graced the world with his presence.
We almost caught up to Cat Impi and raced them to New Cal, but this latest delay will probably see the elusive Impi sneak away from us again. We'll catch them eventually!
Sometimes New Zealand just
Hi Ann & Bob,
Thanks for update. A bit
Hi Mumma T,
Hi Guys, just read your post
The camera stays hidden away from stormy weather and only comes out to play with the rainbows
in the dry Might think about trying to use the YIT blog feature tonight...
Great pics. At last you are
I see you are near Dads
Did the anchorage have much
Hi. Not surprised you at Gulf
Yeah... we didn't actually
Avg: 3knts
24hr: 72nm
Welcome Home Shelly & Zane I
Avg: 4.9knts
24hr: 117.6nm
This e-mail was delivered via satellite phone using Iridium Mail & Web software. Please be kind and keep your replies short.
Avg: 5.3knts
24hr: 128nm
Hi Guys.I see you have
Avg: 6knts
24hr: 144nm
Avg: 4.2knts
24hr: 101.1nm
This e-mail was delivered via satellite phone using Iridium Mail & Web software. Please be kind and keep your replies short.
Avg: 6.8knts
24hr: 163.2nm
So Exciting watching you guys
Avg: 6.8knts
24hr: 162nm
Thx for the messages, its always nice to hear from home.
This e-mail was delivered via satellite phone using Iridium Mail & Web software. Please be kind and keep your replies short.
Avg: 5.7knts
24hr: 136.8nm
Hi Zane and Shell I see you
Avg: 4.8knts
24hr: 114.3nm
Mornin Sailors.You are
Avg: 7.3knts
24hr: 175.2nm
Hi,you might as well pop into
Avg: 24.4knts
24hr: 585.6nm
At 4am the wind turned SW and we knew it was beginning. We had reefed down at midnight in preparation, but left the full head sail out to help us push SW. In hindsight, were should have reduced the head sail much earlier. We donned our foul weather gear, life jackets, harness etc, and the skipper went to the bow to haul in on the head sail furling line (to reduce the sail area to one third). We have previously broken this line and are operating with a jury rigged system that means we can not winch it in. The wind was building very quickly and Shell steered the boat into the wind and eased the sheet to let the sail flap about like a wild child having a tantrum. We hadn't tested our jury rigged system in these conditions and it just wasn't working. We tried a few different techniques but succeeded only in getting bruised, sore, cold and wet. To top it off, the head sail was now in an even worse position than when we started. So, we sat exhausted on the helm seat, ducking waves and watching the instruments, hoping for the first squall to pass so we could try again. The windometer refused to dip below 30 knots, so we trimmed the sail to spill air and waited it out. We had been running our one working engine during the shenanigans, and Shell was keen to make the most of the hot water and get some colour back into her cheeks with a hot shower and return to bed - she was, after all, "off watch".
An hour or so later the wind eased off enough for us to get the sails set the way we wanted them, we were given a fantastic rainbow and then the next squall came. We are now sailing, banging, and crashing along in a respectable fashion... Well somewhat respectable. NZ is to the SSW. We are currently moving WNW in strong SSW winds - ie. We we going away from our destination. Oh well, such is life, the wind will turn eventually as we get into the approaching high pressure. In a day or two are will be able to turn due south for Opua!l To friends and family that are inclined to worry... We are both safe and happy. Libertalia is a very solid boat, capable of handling much more than we would ever want to throw at her. We have good access to up to date and high quality weather forecasting, including the services of a world class personal weather router. We have spent considerable time and money on safety equipment and know how and we take a conservative approach to how we manage the boat and our lives on board. We will reach NZ safe and cheerful in a week.
This e-mail was delivered via satellite phone using Iridium Mail & Web software. Please be kind and keep your replies short.
Avg: 4.7knts
24hr: 112.8nm
Good morning Zane & Michelle
Avg: 6.1knts
24hr: 146.4nm
Sailing looks amazing from
Avg: 23knts
24hr: 551nm
Hi Kids. Sorry no comments
Avg: 9.8knts
24hr: 236.3nm
This has been a very fast trip with ~25knots the entire time and generally from a favorable direction. Haven't calculated yet, but we think the average speed will be 8knots! That is quite something for this boat and a 1200 nautical mile journey! Only two more nights now and we hope to make it into Neiafu, VaVau group, Tonga, in time to clear in with customs before the weekend.
Thinking of friends and family and really enjoy hearing that you are keeping an eye on us here on YIT. Shell gets warm fuzzies every time someone let's us know they are watching.
Love & Muffins from Libertalia This e-mail was delivered via satellite phone using Iridium Mail & Web software. Please be kind and keep your replies short.
Avg: 9.7knts
24hr: 232.8nm
Still following. At the
Avg: 13.5knts
24hr: 324nm
13.5 knots! smoking.....might
Avg: 8.8knts
24hr: 211.9nm
So we are officially past the "yuck" part of ocean passage making, and feeling good for it. We are making good ground in 20-25 knots from behind. 24hr average is 7.75kn which is a pretty good average for our little cruising boat. We have successfully sailed around some uncomfortable conditions, thanks to our world famous weather man - Bob McDavitt. It's pretty cool having him on our team.
At this rate we might cross the date line and make Tonga by their Friday which would let us avoid hefty overtime charges for arriving on Saturday.
Thought for the day: Don't be an island, but if you're going to be, at least be an inhabited one!
Avg: 50.5knts
24hr: 1212.6nm
>He was definitely aiming at us, probably curious and wanted a closer >look. Suddenly, when he was less than 2nm out a front passed, the wind >strength doubled and changed direction by 90 degrees! We were suddenly >flying along at 8-9 knots in flat seas! Itw as surreal and we left our >friends to concentrate on the fishing. Our own fish tally stands at 1 >despite trailing lures everywhere we go.we remain unpeturbed! :) >We are about 24 hours from Raiatea now, hoping the tsunami is a non >event on the land.
Hi just googled Motu Tiapaa
This e-mail was delivered via satellite phone using Iridium Mail & Web software. Please be kind and keep your replies short.
Avg: 6.8knts
24hr: 163.2nm
Following your big adventure
That fish must have been
Avg: 6.7knts
24hr: 160nm
So... the boom is broken, we
I love your attitude! Keep
Glad to see you are out of
Thanks Ann! We managed to
Doing boat maintenance and
Hi kids. Just got data. Good
Aww, Hey there Mum T. Nice to
Avg: 3.8knts
24hr: 91.2nm
First time fishing with our
Libertalia - Libertalia for Sail
I reckon its been about a month and weve been flat out with friends and family on board and all that entails, and doing a lot of sailing, and preparing Libertalia for sale! Yep, weve tod and frod, but ultimately decided that we must sell Libertalia. The sales process itself will be worthy of 1,000 words and we are already collecting scandal and intrigue that will make for fascinating reading even for those of us who experienced it the first time! However, we cant really write about it while Read more...
Libertalia - Paddle Overboard! ...and we meet The Killers
We are on our way south, more or less, slowly making our way towards Ile De Pins.
At Baie De La Torture, some friendly Aussies popped over to torture us with their accents. They had spotted us out by a reef where Michelle was sunbathing on the dinghy and I was spearfishing. "Did yeer keel anything?" they asked. We shook our heads and conceded we hadnt speared a thing. These Aussies, however, were fair dinkum killers, so we agreed that we would head over to their place for a feed of Read more...
The Killers suggested that we come along with them the next morning, to a spot a few miles away, where we could dive the reef with the experts and fill our freezer with sea bounty. We made a plan to leave at 8am or 9am or talk in the morning on channel 16 or channel 72 or… something.
At around 8.30, the killers upd anchor and putted away. We discussed this for the next hour and half and wondered if we had made some inappropriate joke, or just missed the departure call, or what? Maybe they had decided to have a quiet killing session all by their lonesome? Maybe they tried to call before we turned on the VHF? Maybe the Sheila had gotten itchy and killed the geezer in the night and was making a run for it? Our wild hypothesise were finally interrupted by a call on the radio.. "Are you guys having a big sleep in, or do you have some kind of problem?"
OK, we clearly missed something. We whipped up our anchor and headed out of the anchorage towards the reef. Only a hundred meters out from the protected bay, the wind picked up so we cut the engines and sailed along at 5 knots with only the headsail. With only a couple of miles to travel, I decided this was my perfect opportunity to try out Paddle Ski Sail Boarding! I grabbed a rope, threw a paddle on to the board (just in case), and made a spectacular running start. 5 knots is less than 10kph, but when youre bouncing around on the waves and trying to step from a boat to a paddle board, its a bit entertaining. However, I made it over and was soon enjoying the views from my giant inflatable single ski. It was great fun and my technique was improving. I was carving it up and then the just-in-case paddle left the board. My brain froze for a moment, but I had to let go of the rope and stay near the paddle or it would be lost forever! I yelled something to Michelle, let go of the rope, and watched as the boat sailed away. Now I was too far from the paddle to reach it and the boat was sailing away at a fair ole clip! Michelle was prepared for this and pulled the boat into the wind, furled away the head sail and started the engines. I made some half-hearted attempts at a surfer style paddle towards my floating stick, but I was rapidly being blown downwind and my mind had created a school of hungry sharks that were waiting just below the surface to devour my limbs. So, I bravely crossed my legs and sat on the paddle board and yelled confusing instructions across the water at my rescuer. "Come and get me!", "Keep an eye on the paddle!", "Im over here!"… What ever would she do without my helpful guidance? Libertalia was now somewhere near the lost paddle, but her skipper was demanding rescue, so Michelle dutifully left it floating and came to pluck me from the hungry jaws of my imagination. In my defence, the sharks were reaaally hungry, and I figured that two crew on board was going to make everything a lot easier and safer for part 2 of the rescue.
Fifteen minutes later, I radioed the killers and told them of a rare and wild carbon paddle fish that could be caught in these waters. This was enough to lure them to our aid and four people aboard two boats spent the best part of the next hour hunting this elusive creature. We zigged and zagged, prayed and peered and beat back the demons that wanted to steal our hope and play the blame game. Eagle Eyes was clinging to the mast and scouting from atop the boom. I forced myself to keep some kind of search pattern and scouted with binoculars. We raced downwind to some playing dolphins and asked if they had our paddle,, but they were playing their own game and had nothing useful to contribute. The killers suggested we go back to the scene of the crime so we headed back upwind toward a spec of sea that looked just like all the rest. Our GPS guided us and we slowly drove the boat straight towards a waypoint that would later be renamed to "Davy Jones Paddle". Billaroo was weaving some strange aboriginal trail behind us and leaving great S trails in their wake. They mostly avoided our track, figuring there was not much point in covering exactly the same patch of water.
Then the radio squealed something… I played the noise back in my head… wait, I think that was a Sheila… what did she say? I played it in my head again… "Eeets hee-ar!"… I rolled the sound around in my head again… "Its here!". You have got to be kidding me!? They found it!? I spun my head and it looked like the killers had slowed down. They were not far off our starboard stern and I played the sound over one more time to be sure before calling out to the admiral "Theyve found it!".
We stood on the foredeck, clapped and cheered as our paddle was plucked from the sea and brought safely aboard. The needle had been found! The haystack was no match for the diligence of our new friends. We must have passed by the paddle only 40-50 meters away.
This is why we have AIS PLBs inside our lifejackets. If a person goes overboard at sea without one, there is little hope of even finding them, let alone saving them. The first rule of ocean sailing is "Stay on the boat", but if you ever do break the rule, I hope you have every bit of technology and know-how you can muster, working to keep you alive. I pray I never have to search the sea for anything more precious than a paddle!
With our paddle safely in their possession, The Killers decided we would need to prove ourselves worthy before any transfer could take place. A vague destination was agreed, the sails were hoisted, and we danced for 12 nautical miles. Of course, we were just having a relaxed cruise, but the sails were trimmed just right and there was no time for idle banter. The lead changed hands numerous times and we jostled for position. Libertalia took a longer course, looking for more wind out further from land. It paid dividends, but then we got distracted and lost our wind at a critical juncture. We were neck and neck going into the final few miles and we made another move that cost us boat lengths. Their bigger boat accelerated past 9 knots, reaching in the higher winds. We were pointing high and fighting to keep in the game as our courses converged. The end was in sight and Billaroo was barely ahead as we entered the long Bonne Anse inlet. We were accelerating again and only the exact placement of the finish line would determine who would collect the honours.
…but of course, we were just having a relaxed cruise, so we meandered into Anse Majic, dropped our sails and prepared our boats for the evening.
We had proven ourselves worthy and Davy Jones Paddle could come home with his paddle-head held high.
haha. crikey, what an
haha. crikey, what an adventure!
Hi Michelle and Zane great to
Hi Michelle and Zane great to read your eventful & memorable moments. We are loving your Blogs Zane. The Beautiful pictures and stories of snake holes, man sized bird nests and the webs of hand sized spiders make captivating & dramatic reading as I drink my morning coffee. Take Care, Keep up the wonderful Biography and lots of love from NZ. Mum
I took a break from tailing (in the NZ) sunshine to read of your latest adventure...glad your Anzac mates eyes were sharp and clear...friends made in adversity are gold. ..hope you caught some fishes for them or maybe Shell cooked one of her fabulous meals...I look forward to next chapter...!
Libertalia - Counting the days
This post is inspired by the story of Salvador Alvarenga, a man who the world once labelled a scammer, but whose story will undoubtedly save lives in two quite different ways.
500 days ago today we took over the boat we now call home. So much water has gone under the bridge deck, it seems like that was an awfully long time ago. We have learned and grown and changed a great deal in this time. More, I expect, than we realise. Friends & family used to ask What will you do in two years Read more...
438 Days is the name of the book I read (cover-to-cover) this morning. I remember when the story broke in the news of a man showing up in the Marshall Islands having had drifted in a small fishing boat all the way from Mexico. At the time, I joined the chorus of sceptics, but the book gives the true account and now sits atop my list of highly recommended! This book is entertaining and inspirational, but also reveals lessons for sailors and non-sailors alike.
283 days since we arrived on the shores of New Zealand, complaining about the cold, but glad to be home, if even for a visit. We never really thought of NZ as being cold, but when you have acclimatised to the tropics and you sail into the NZ winter, you discover that in actuality, The Winterless North, isnt!
27 days since we arrived in New Caledonia. Wow, one third of our time has gone already! Those 90 days will be gone in a flash. We are glad we are taking the time to record our memories in words and photos. Far too soon that is all we will have.
13 days until our next guests arrive and we get to give a taste of our life to our friends. Real life aboard is so much more than the glorious snippets we get to post online. Our first guests have departed last night (Au revoir Mum & Dad!) and got to experience the broader spectrum which includes wet dinghy rides and sun soaked paddle boarding, fast downwind sailing and bumpy upwind beating, calm bays and rolly anchorages, isolated tropical islands and busy bays, fast sharks and slow turtles, gourmet meals and unsettled stomachs (unrelated, I promise!), and of course a sneak peek into the world of boat maintenance. If youre not doing it, its doing you!
1 day until we return to Noumea to resupply and prepare for our journey south toward Ile Des Pins. We will take our time and explore Canal Woodin and Baie Du Prony on the way.
Here is to you Alvarenga. If we may be so bold as to call ourselves fellow seaman, we raise our glasses and thank you for your endurance and willingness to share your story.
May we never have the misfortune to be cast adrift at sea, or to consider suicide as an answer to our ails. Yet, if our vessel or hope is to ever fail us, may your faith and words be ours to carry us through.
Libertalia - Baie De St Vincent and Bon Voyage Vikings
They say that all good things must come to an end. ThatâÂÂs not entirely true, but most things do end and part of our human existence is managing the raft of emotions that come in to play when we are forced to say goodbye. It is usual, I guess, to bring to mind the happiest moments and store them away for safe keeping whilst simultaneously allowing the feelings of loss, however great or small, to accompany the goodbye.
Today we say farewell to Baie De St Vincent and to the Homeless Read more...
Whilst the optimist believes that we will surely see both again, the realist knows that this is most unlikely. So it is with a happy sad that we are now sailing South, away from Baie De St Vincent, and away from the Vikings who are now sailing North on a long journey to Indonesia.
Baie De St Vincent We came to the Baie to explore the area and find interesting places to take our guests (parents) when they come to visit next week. ItâÂÂs closer to the airport than Noumea and is a large bay with numerous islands large and small that make up the Baie area.
There is also a small marina that doesnâÂÂt appear on any of our charts. With a little help from our landlubber friend (thanks Dave!) and the magic of Google, we found it and went ashore to practice our French. OK, so we actually went ashore to find out if there were markets anywhere, this is French territory, so French practice was the order of the day! For the most part the locals are good about our ignorance, and my conversations usually start with a simple apology. âÂÂDesole, je ne pa parle FrancaisâÂÂ. One store owner in Noumea smiled broadly and promptly replied âÂÂDesole, je ne pa parle EnglaisâÂÂ. Our exchange at the little marina called âÂÂPort Ouenghiâ was similar, but we still managed to talk for a while and the proprietor looked up the number for a taxi and explained that we would need to walk for 20mins if we wanted to hitchhike, and it would take around an hour if we walked all the way to the village for vegetables⦠not a word of English was spoken. The owner was very kind and didnâÂÂt seem to mind our inability to speak the language.
Aside from this visit to Port Ouenghi, we also visited many other islands and bays: Ile Moro â A Giant rock with a petite beach and fascinating baby rock formations assembled like ducklings. We visited twice because we had coverage here and needed to get some Internet to pay bills⦠yeah, you know who you are invoice senders! :-P Ile Nduke â Where we chose to negotiate the narrow channel with hard coral on either side and we went paddle boarding after big fish in the mangroves.
Baie Uitoe â Where we did boat maintenance and swapped out our anchor chain and admired the manicured grounds of the shoreline.
Ile Ronhua â where it was gusting 25 knots and the white sand beach was overshadowed by our inability to decide where one would anchor in these conditions.
Ile Tenia â where it was still blowing like a birthday boy and we navigated big Bommies (or as the French call them, coral potatoes). We only stayed long enough for lunch and moved on to⦠The Lepredour Channel â where we found shelter at last. The cliffs from the nature reserve island towered above us, red and scarred and glowing as the sun set. The water was flat and we slept like drunkards.
And finally, the Baie De Mosquitos on Ile Hugon - which seems to be entirely pest free, unless you count the guy with the bonfire on the beach, or the dog on the other boat in the anchorage. Hey, as long as there are no mossies, IâÂÂm a happy little larry bird.
Oh, and as we sailed away the next morning, we remarked how the water was so flat you could ski⦠Thus we discovered Paddle-Sail-Ski-Boarding! Michelle mounted her paddle board and was towed along as we sailed. I sense a new sport in the making.
This morning as we sipped on our sunrise coffee, we received a message that we had been expecting, but not eagerly.
Our Finnish friends aboard âÂÂHomelessâ sent a message to say farewell. We protested, and told them there was no wind to sail, and you canâÂÂt very well start a 3,000 mile trip by motoring! But they had cleared out of the country and were hoping to find breeze further out from land.
So, we hatched a plan, hoisted the sails, and plotted a course to intercept the Vikings! The Vikings were sailing North so we sailed out to the West and found them. We sailed fast below them and then came up along their windward side. âÂÂFancy seeing you hereâ we beamed :- I had written a farewell poem with my second coffee and we had printed it out for them to take on their journey. We packed this into a dry bag along with a native New Caledonian flag and some tinfoil wrapped goodies (Chocolate!). We agreed that Homeless would maintain course and speed and we would maneuverer ourselves into position for the exchange. The bag, attached to a long line, was thrown between the boats and the contents were emptied. This is a bit like mum trying to pass the forgotten school lunch through the window of the bus to little Maxy as it speeds along the highway. So not something to be done without care.
After taking some photos of our little flotilla, we turned around and sailed South, happy that we had said our goodbyes in true style! Farewell Homeless Vikings, it really was too brief, and we hope we can meet again.
Farewell Baie De St Vincent, thanks for the adventures, we will see you in our memories.
Bon Voyage to the Vikings (the poem)
Its a beautiful morning with sun and calm seas,
All is quiet, there is barely a breeze.
We sit and ponder what today will hold.
The sat phone beeps and we are told
"Dear friends we are leaving! It was too brief,
But we are now heading out through reef."
No, You cant leave! We have not said goodbye!
And look, up above, not a cloud in the sky
There is barely a breeze and there's too far to go
You have yet three thousand miles to go!
The time is not right! We stand and protest
But all is prepared, this is no test.
Good things must end and yachts sail away,
Our Homeless Vikings will leave us today.
So we utter a prayer that you will be well
That the waves will be friendly as you ride the swell
As the journey grows long, be good to each other.
May the friends that you make be close like a brother
Fair winds to our friends, may the sea be kind.
May the wind always blow from somewhere behind.
So we sailed to sea and cast our eyes
We intercepted their boat and spoke our goodbyes.
I took a pen to the ships log and wrote
Farewell dear Viking... in the blood red boat!
Libertalia - Snakes and Spiders, Turtles and Sharks
Many a sailor has been heard to talk of respect for the ocean. The wind and the waves harness great power, and man can quickly realise just how small he is. Beneath the waves is another world again and guide books are quick to warn about the dangers of touching the wrong kind of coral and the necessity to avoid standing on stonefish or stingrays or jelly fish or sea snakes. They also offer helpful advice if running afoul of some of the more commonly known sea creatures. A guide we were perusing Read more...
Today we ventured into sea and land.
We paddled ashore on our boards, intent on seeing what Ilot Signal (Marker Island) had to show us. During our initial exploration we were attacked by some kind of ball-of-thorns plant and I would later spend an hour pulling a hundred thorns from our crocs. Technically someone elseâÂÂs crocs, but if the person who left a black pair of size 10 crocs aboard would like to claim them back, you know where to find me.
After dodging the thorn balls, we found ourselves on some kind of track that encircled the island. Michelle was walking timidly. She didnâÂÂt sleep too well last night. After seeing a couple of snakes in the sea, her subconscious was still processing and they slithered into her dreams and even sent her checking in odd places for stowaways. I have now learnt that whilst walking on a deserted island, it is not humorous to point at an S-shaped stick and loudly declare it to be a snake! I didnâÂÂt stay in the dog box for long. We rounded a bend and came across a magical little mini-lagoon where we stopped to take the obligatory photos. As we left the mini lagoon and headed back on to the track, what goes around came around. Territorial New Caledonian attack birds came squawking and swooping down at me. Why me? Was it the hat, or just the fact that I was the leader of our party? â¦or did they somehow know about my little snake joke? We moved on quickly and once free of attack bird territory, began to enjoy the uniqueness of the island again. The sandy track was riddled with holes as big as your head. It looked like a combination of sand crabs and erosion⦠Of course, Michelle wondered if they were snake holes! Then it happened⦠Whilst enjoying the view, the path under Michelles foot gave way and she fell into a shallow hole. She fell forward and then bounced up quickly, hopping and babbling and squealing. It seems she had fallen into one of the mysterious holes and her hands had landed either side of a snake skin. The snake was nowhere to be seen, but after a quick second look at the deflated snake clothes, we moved on quickly.
With her bird-like vision, Michelle then claimed to have spotted an eagle. It turns out it was actually an Osprey, but who knows these things? It was a huge carnivorous bird gliding about on the wind and carrying a small tree in its talons. At first we were confused about its cargo, but then old eagle-eyes spotted the nest. This was a birds nest in the same way that Buckingham Palace is a council flat. If the bird wasnâÂÂt a little daunting before, the fact that we could probably sleep cosily in the nest was enough. We moved on quickly! Why do I always have to walk in front? I stopped very suddenly and we both took a half step back. A moment before I had walked into it, the light had bounced on a web that hung across the path like a zip line. I donâÂÂt mind admitting IâÂÂm squeamish around spiders (among other things) and I was happy to duck under this web and generally keep well clear of its maker.
âÂÂGood callâ eagle-eyes called out behind me. I turned around and followed her gaze. A spider, bigger than my hand, was crawling quickly away from her foiled trap. She sat, watched and waited at a safe distance. After ducking under the web herself, Michelle remarked âÂÂI think we would have fed that guy for a week!âÂÂ. I shuddered, and we moved on⦠quickly.
Our path turned down to the beach where we came across another man sized bird nest and we eventually discovered the chimney structure that gives the island its name. An elevated wooden pathway then led us over the eroding crab holes and under a canopy of trees and led us back to our paddle boards. Land time was over! We paddled back to the boat, grabbed our masks and snorkels and jumped over board. The water is surprisingly cool here, but there is nothing disappointing about the reef. We swam with large tropical fish of all varieties and messed about with brightly coloured schools of smaller fish. The turtles regarded us with little concern and were quite happy for us to swim up close and personal. A shark meandered by and made a close arc around us before carrying on his way. We only looked back once or twice to check.
As we made our way back to the boat through mountains and tunnels of coral, we discovered it must be turtle nap time. Several times we came across a turtle, wedged in amongst the coral and lying motionless.
If the wise old turtles say itâÂÂs nap time, then nap time it must be! We are, after all, sea people.
This e-mail was delivered via satellite phone using Iridium Mail & Web software. Please be kind and keep your replies short.
great read. loving hearing
great read. loving hearing about your adventures. lots of love. us
Libertalia - The day the boat came to town...
When you sail in to another country, things are not quite as simple as they are at the airport.
For seasoned sailing cruisers, this is all old-hat, so this post is certainly directed at our land lubber friends and family :)
The process begins many many miles out to sea, or for those without any email at sea, before they leave the last port.
The first step is to notify the authorities in the destination country that you intend to visit their fine land. This is the first of many Read more...
If everything goes accordin to plan (you'd be surprised how often it doesn't!),
you find yourself in the territorial waters of the country you notified, and then raise the mighty Q flag.
Mariners just love their flags!
The Q flag is a simple yellow flag "Quarantine" flag, and it is raised up the flag halyard to announce to the world that you are a foreign vessel, and as such, potentially hazardous to the environment, and are hereby under quarantine. No person or object shall enter or exit the boat until such time as the captain has completed his or her clearances with the relevant authorities.
After a radio call or two you find yourself anchored or tied up in the designated area and the great foot shuffle begins.
This usually takes somewhere between 3-8 hours depending on how many officials you need to see, how far you have to walk to get to the next place, how well hidden they are, and how consistent the information is between bureaus. It is not unheard of for office A to send you to office B who tells you to go away because you dont have the pink form which is obtained from office C. Office C is closed for lunch, so you massage your feet for an hour and arrive at C, only to be told that the pink form comes from office A, but you don't need it to go to office B anyway... and so the shuffle proceeds. In some places, the officials thoroughly enjoy their power, but seldom seem to like their job, and it's not uncommon for officials to want more than the prescribed amount for their services rendered.
In our case, we arrived after dark and there was nobody to answer our radio calls. A cruise ship had just left - actually, lets pause and talk about this cruise ship for a moment...
...a few miles out of port Moselle, I watched a cruise ship heading out of the harbour. A few quick calculations and I said to Michelle "That guy is going to get in the way". She thought he would go another way, and the bet was on! As we headed across the channel, the cruise ship disappeared under our sail and turned toward us. I watched on our AIS system which tells me about his speed and direction, and estimates the closest point of interest, and calculates when that will happen. The numbers were changing rapidly and he was coming toward us at 16 knots and accelerating. Meanwhile, the crew aboard another yacht we shall call "Muppet" were starting to become concerned. They were motoring in rapidly falling light with no lights, and a huge cruise ship bearing down on them! They turned to starboard... fair enough. Then they turned to port... errr what? Then they turned to starboard again... Michelle ran to get the camera.
I figured the cruise ship captain was going to have his hands full, so I made a courteous turn to port, indicating to him I not be any trouble.
The TCPA (Time until we get as close as it will be) was now less than three minutes.
Muppet was still changing course and clearly panicking.
The spectacle was hilarious, but quickly moving toward dangerous!
Muppet finally decided that port was the best option, and turned enough to avoid a catastrophic event.
In another senseless move, they then remained only meters from the ship, while the crew stood on the bow and chatting to the passengers who watched from their balconies.
The matter of the bet was long forgotten in the shenanigans.
OK, so the cruise ship had departed, and we decided we could fit into the space they had left :).
They next day, while I was out doing the shuffle, the port authorities came by (twice) to inform Michelle that we were anchored in the cruise ship area, and we had better move before the next one came along at 2pm.
We used our dinghy to get close to the various offices and Michelle, who is not allowed on the shore at this point, stayed in the dinghy and floated around while I filled out forms and smiled nicely.
Harbour master - Check!
Immigration - Check!
Customs - Check!
Quarantine / Biosecurity...
…We had been informed that New Caledonia is a bit like NZ. ie. they take everything! Cheese, meat, eggs, fruits & veges, frozen goods... everything!
The shuffle become a more involved exercise as we hauled bags of food from the dinghy and I hobbled to & fro (with my broken jandal). Biosecurity let us keep heaps of stuff we thought we would lose! Frozen beans, frozen fish, frozen chicken, pies, pizzas, even a cheesecake! Apparently, the fact that we had bought this stuff in NZ meant it was not a risk. Brilliant!! The fruit and vegetables were taken away, but they would easily be replace at the local markets the next morning.
The last item to surrender was the garden... Michelle likes to nest, and our assortment of succulents and ferns were to be handed over to the surprised biosecurity officials. I made the short hobble-hike back to the dinghy to collect the box full of plants. The officials were so impressed with the garden that they took photos. Michelle thinks they just wanted a record of her cool home made candle-pots.
Everything here was very straightforward and friendly. The French authorities have been well organised and easy to deal with. We are officially cleared in and can stay for three months.
We will stay anchored near town for now so we can work with local people to find the parts we need and make a few minor repairs.
Oh my...is that Muppet up by the ship. ...keep clear of them. Good pics. Enjoyed you blog. Glad les autorites were efficient and Shell is now famous for her creations. ..keep creating girl. Hope your repairs go well. We have 23 lambs on ground ..another one or two on way now. Love to you Zane and Shell. Xx
Libertalia - First blog and the story of the Homeless Vikings
I've been toying with the idea of using the blog feature on YIT to record some more of our meanderings and experiences along the journey. It is for us as much as it is for you. I enjoy the process, so let's give it a go!
I wrote a poem today to encourage some new friends who are languishing somewhere behind us. It's slow going with so little wind, from the wrong direction, and limited diesel.
The story of the Homeless Vikings
When a boat comes alongside a dock, there is Read more...
moments of a vessels voyage.
A good dock hand is golden, but a bad one can be rather troublesome!
Things can end badly with well meaning people who lack the competence to do the job, or occasionally, think they know better and will do various hazardous things contrary to instructions. A good skipper will be very firm and clear, but we generally find it best to just do it ourselves.
Our modus operandi, is for Michelle to smile and say, "Thanks, but I'll do it - I need the practice". We all need the practice right :)
Once in Tahiti, a helpful boatie watched Michelle tying up, looked at her sideways, chuckled and said "Oh, I think you've had plenty of practice!"
As we docked at the town basin in Whangarei, NZ, a relaxed looking young couple hopped off a small red Finnish flagged boat and offered to take our lines. They looked safe enough, and had a vested interest in helping us to dock cleanly as we attempted to slide into a gap between them and
I gave Michelle the secret nod and she threw the lines and relayed instructions like a pro. The Finnish crew were golden.
Over the next few days while we replaced our chart plotter and did last minute boat maintenance, we got to know our new neighbours and shared a meal, stories, tools, itineraries, and handwritten 'boat cards'.
Their 27 foot boat is aptly called "Homeless" and thus, we have named them "The Homeless Vikings"
We agreed that we would have a very unofficial race from NZ to Noumea. The winner would be required to have champagne on ice for the second boat to arrive. As the bigger, faster boat, we would need to provide a measured head start to make things interesting. As fate conspired, the Homeless Vikings left from Whangarei and we finally left from Opua a couple of days later. We figured it would take a few days to catch them. We shot out of New Zealand in a strong sou'westerly and sailed a longer, but faster course at thri
continuous speeds of 8-11 knots for 2 days. Within 24 hours we were ahead and Michelle was wondering how the Vikings would like "Libertalia champagne". Recipe – take cask wine, carbonate using soda stream maker, and then put into the freezer in a glass 'presentation' bottle. Nothing but the best here baby!
As the winds eased, we matched speeds and have stayed a little over 100nm ahead for a couple of days. But today, they must start rationing diesel as we both motor sail in uncooperative and fickle conditions, and so we will extend our lead again.
We've never sailed an ocean in company before, and though we have never been close enough to even radio them, we have been able send texts over satellite and it has been fun to know there is someone else out there on this incredibly wide ocean.
My poem sounds best when read slowly by Sean Connery. OK, so most things do.
From lands to the north and far beyond,
came the seafaring Vikings, fair and blonde
They sailed the seas to find a free land,
and took their time to survey New Zealand.
They were young and brave with a need to be free!
So once again they pushed out to sea.
They set off in waves and winds that were violent,
and yelled at the ocean until she was quiet.
Now they motor and long for a breeze,
that will carry them on to Noumea palm trees.
The race may be lost but they still stand to gain
On ice at arrival is the contenders champagne
Their progress is modest, they cannot gloat,
but the Vikings are coming... in their blood red boat!
Poetry and Sea Adventures
Love your Poetry and Story Telling Adventures. Perhaps a Book in the making Zane.
We are looking forward to chapter two and seeing who won the race.! xxx Mum & Dad H
Great blog. So easy to access. God speed to the Vikings. So you're Sean C what is Shells 007 alias? Love Mum.xx
Wow. Most impressed. A poet
Wow. Most impressed. A poet in the making. :)
Can feel the tension as you race. Sounds like fun. Apart from the sea sickness we would love to be there :)
Robin and Chris


text:
Elementary League Kicks Off
This week St. Joseph Christian will host its second annual elementary basketball league. As administration continues to search for ways to increase the overall experience, several changes are worth noting.
The league has grown considerably since last year's inaugural season. With 36 teams set to tip off in 2015, an additional location has been added to handle the game overflow. St. Francis Xavier School will host 5 games each week while the remaining 13 will take place in St. Joseph Christian High School's gym.
In addition to posting updates on our league Facebook page, the St. Joseph Christian website will be utilized to store statistics, schedules, records, and media. Archived copies of the weekly newsletter will also be available on the website.
All-Time Statistics
As stats are compiled over the ensuing weeks, athletes of this year's league will be able to compare their performances to past competitors. Players who played in previous leagues will have the opportunity to add to their legacies by accumulating stats that will continue to increase their all-time totals. These all-time totals will be updated weekly and stored on the St. Joseph Christian website for those who want to see how they stack up against the league's all-time greats.
Game of the Week
Each week there will be a game that will serve as the game of the week. Highlights of this game will be shot from the sidelines and posted on both Facebook and the SJCS website. The game of the week will also be featured in the newsletter.
We are excited for another great season of basketball, and would like to thank all league participants for choosing the St. Joseph Christian Elementary Basketball League!

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Body&Soul: Local Apothecary in Jacksonville, Florida
I'm so glad you've found your way here, thank you for supporting small, local business!
If you're local, Come visit our store at 2726 College St. Jacksonville, Florida 32204
(We're on the corner of King St. & College St. next to Kickbacks)
Call Vanessa at 904-660-8328 for directions or with any questions!
Monday: 1PM - 7PM
Tuesday: 1PM - 7PM
Wednesday: 1PM - 7PM
Thursday: 1PM - 7PM
Friday: 1PM - 7PM
Saturday: 1PM - 7PM
Sunday: CLOSED
We Carry: Bulk Buy Herbs, Essential Oils, Natural Skin Care, Whitening Toothpaste, Deodorants, Hair Care, Gemstones, Gemstone necklaces, Sage and Palo Santo and much more!


text:
I feel like THE colour this SS17 is yellow, or it is for me anyway! I've never worn yellow before, I don't think so anyway, but recently I was browsing primark (mens) looking for some stuff for my fiancé when I found a cute, pastel yellow T-Shirt! At only £2, I thought I would try and make it work. I wasn't sure what I was going to pair it with when I purchased it, but I've come up with an outfit that I thought I would share!
You probably saw this look ALL over my Instagram at the time, but it is my favourite by far! I just love pairing this yellow tee with the stripey trousers. This look is fun, casual and comfortable all in one, but you could even jazz it up with a smart jacket and wear it to work! So versatile, and bang on trend with the trousers this season!
Shop the look:
Top- Primark (in store only)
Trousers- Peacocks
Shoes- Primark (in store only)
Bag- Primark (in store only)
And that's all from me today! I hope you enjoyed this post!
Thanks for reading,
H x


text:
Main programThe British artist, Tim Etchells, has created a new, space-filling work for the new Lân fan Taal building at the Oldehoofsterkerkhof. The ingredients: neon letters, telephones and poetic messages!Tuesday 26 September 2017
- Monday 31 December 2018
Main programWould you like to know how language and writing can connect you to your Frisian ancestors? Who were those ancestors, actually? Where did they live? How did they live? You may find it difficult to find answers to these questions…Friday 26 January 2018
- Monday 31 December 2018
Main program"Ssshh…! In Tresoar, time whispers." For those who like to see and to listen, Tresoar is a grindstone for thoughts, a source of inspiration, and a memory machine running at full speed with voices of the present and past in…Friday 26 January 2018
- Monday 31 December 2018
Main programWhere can you experience many languages in 2018 and enjoy activities and food from many different language communities? In the specially-designed language pavilion MeM (Frisian for 'mother') in the Prinsentuin. At MeM it's as homely inside as its outer appearance…Friday 30 March 2018
- Sunday 28 October 2018
Ongoing program
Secondary programGround frost, dew on empty washing lines, frost on the window. Winter strikes hard in the historic heart of Leeuwarden. Time for a festival that warms you from the inside!Thursday 22 November 2018 -
Thursday 22 November 2018
Friday 23 November 2018 -
Friday 23 November 2018
Saturday 24 November 2018 -
Saturday 24 November 2018


text:
I'm very grateful to Giselle K. Jakobs for her thorough research and detailed website about the focus of today's podcast – her grandfather, Josef Jakobs. You can visit her website at http://www.josefjakobs.info/
The last execution at the Tower of London took place on the 15th August 1941. Josef Jakobs was a German spy who was arrested after he signalled for help after breaking his ankle when he parachuted into Britain.
Jakobs had served in the German Army during the First World War, and became a dentist in the interwar period. However, due to impact of the worldwide depression he turn to selling fake gold, for which he served two and a half years in jail.
After his release, Jakobs became involved in providing counterfeit passports to German Jews fleeing Hitler's regime. However, he was arrested in 1938 and sent to a concentration camp from which he was released in 1940.
Within six months Jakobs had begun training with the Abwehr – the intelligence wing of the Germany Army – and on the 31st January 1941 dressed in a business suit and parachuted into England. Having broken his ankle, he was found the next morning in a field near Dovehouse Farm in Huntingdonshire.
Jakobs was taken into custody, and was held at Dulwich Hospital in London while complications with his broken ankle were treated. Eventually he was transferred to Wandsworth Prison, where he was formally charged with espionage and tried by General Court Marshall in early August since he didn't have British nationality and was a formal member of the Germany Army.
Found guilty, he was taken to the miniature firing range at the Tower of London on the 15th. Having been strapped to a wooden Windsor chair, he was killed by firing squad at 7:12 a.m.


text:
One of the worst things that can happen in a D&D game. The players get bored, but what should you do as a DM?
There are a few signs of boredom that plays display and you, as the DM, should look out for. The signs described below are also useful for everyday life, if you're chatting to a friend or chatting up someone you like, you should look out for these signs and react appropriately by changing the subject of conversation.
The signs to look out for:
The player is looking around a lot -- He or she is looking at everything else but the board game. Everything in the room suddenly becomes more interesting then the game at hand. The behaviour can be amplified if there are distractions in the room such as a radio and TV playing in the background. The player is very bored if they keep looking at the door as well. Whenever the player performs this behaviour, it is as if to say "I want to exit from this situation, because I am bored".
Hand to the cheek gesture -- You maybe aware of this one. Whenever a player has his cheek in his hand, then it displays boredom. The more the face is resting on the hand, the more bored they are. Usually the gesture starts with hand on the chin, and then gradually the hand moves to the face...you should realise they are bored when they have fallen asleep!
Having a "half-arsed" attitude -- Being "half-arsed" means only putting half the effort in. When the player is asked to do something such as rolling the dice or role playing they may perform the action lazily. They can't be bothered playing the game anymore.
The problem is, because we humans are empathic, we tend to mimic other people's behaviour. In other words...when one person is bored, it's most likely other people will be bored too! Have you ever seen someone yawn, only to yawn yourself? That's a form of empathy. So it's important to remedy that bored player as soon as possible before it spreads to the other players, and even you! But how does one do that? Well there are some tips for that as well, just below:
Take a break -- Probably one of the best tips out there. Regardless of any activities we do, we need a break at some point! Even if we are doing something we enjoy we still need to take a break because we get tired. We change activities so our mind can think differently about things. Have you ever had a really hard math problem, only to dwell on it for an hour...then you take a mini-break and then realise how to answer it? This is the idea I'm getting at. Take a break, do anything else apart from the game for 10 minutes, don't even talk about it!
Rearrange the game -- Yup, nothing is stopping you from re-arranging the game...yes it can be frustrating because you spent hours preparing the adventure but on the other hand you don't need to do any preparation for when your group meets up next! I think this should be a last resort.
Change the pace -- Yup, you could be going too slowly and some players would like you to speed up to get on with the story. On the other hand you could be going fast and you could have some players lost...then again it's better to be confused then to be bored!
Have a sudden change in story -- This sometimes does work and doesn't work, it depends on how bored the players are. Just have a subtle change like 3 goblins suddenly jump out of a bush and attack, a bar fight suddenly occurs or a tumble of rocks suddenly rush towards the players (which could knock one or two off the edge and some of the players could have to save them!).
So try and counter boredom as soon as possible, as this can spread to other players and make it a boring experience for everyone. If you are in doubt if the players are bored then you should ask them to react accordingly. If the players are continually bored, then maybe you should change the story or maybe look for a new set of players.
Saturday, 8 May 2010
Bored Players - What's a DM to do?
Posted by begindnd at 01:00
Labels: Bored Player, DM
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


text:
Meeting Minutes - Piscataquis County
Friends and Neighbors Meeting Notes
Greenville Community Café
July 24, 2012
The meeting was called to order at 10:00 a.m. in the lounge at the Dean Park Apartments in Greenville. In attendance were Lorraine Stewart, Evelyn Brooks, Vaughn Smith, John Shaw, Sylvia Edgerly, Lucielle Thibeault, Kay Loiselle, Judith Burke, Debbie Ranta and Sandra Ryder. Staff in attendance was Noëlle Merrill, Gail Rush, Leslie Lizotte and Lee-Ann Horowitz.
The group introduced themselves. Most of the attendees lived in the Dean Park apartments. Two lived in Greenville Junction.
Noëlle and other EAAA staff talked about the various services available from the agency. A focus was placed on underutilized SNAP benefits by seniors. Members of the audience did not realize this was a benefit that could help them make ends meet. Another program of interest was that of the Amish Fireplaces. Residents reported that they were responsible for their own heat in the building and that they were keeping thermostats low. It was thought that they could qualify for a fireplace, since they were also reporting that they were cold and did not have any other options. Staff reminded the group of the date for enrollment in LIHEAP and other heating/insulation assistance programs.
Another area of discussion focused on home maintenance for the women who came from their own private homes. Staff said they would follow-up to make sure they are connected to the right program for some of the work necessary before winter. In most cases, this would be Penquis.
There was a discussion about the new benefits available from Medicare such as preventive screenings. Leslie Lizotte brought booklets and other information to help the attendees understand this fairly new benefit. One of the attendees, the son of a resident, said he was a para medic with the hospital and that there was a new program in the works that would pair home visits with chronic disease. There was a lot of interest in this. One attendee said that she struggled with managing her diabetes. She didnât understand when her numbers differed from the information that she had. Staff said that in the past, home health public nurses were available statewide for this sort of educational need, but that there are so few now that a lot of people are not able to access the service. Noëlle shared information about Community Care Teams, who will likely be coming to Greenville, could help with just this sort of issue. They are meant to help patients/consumers better manage a chronic disease with education, exercise tips and other tools.
The meeting ended at approximately 11:30 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Noëlle L Merrill
Executive Director
Piscataquis County Friend and Neighbors Meeting
March 19, 2012
Dover-Foxcroft Community Café
The meeting began at 10:00 a.m. Guests in attendance were Roberta Sawyer, Dottie Hadier, Barbara Wilbur, Joan Shapleigh, Ione rush, Grace Nicholas, Nancy Matulis, Paul Matulis, Sue Mackey Andrews, Judy Merck, Jane Conroy, Dorothy Finnemore, Wilma Andres and Marie Thompson. Staff present was Noëlle Merrill, Leslie Lizotte, Theresa Boettner and Gail Rush. EAAA board president, Virginia Fortier also attended.
Noëlle talked about the purpose of these meetings where the public is invited to share their ideas, comments about needs and so forth. She then talked about EAAA services and how they might benefit seniors living in Piscataquis County. She also talked about the advocacy that was on-going in Augusta and mentioned that if anyone was interested in advocating for senior issues, to please give her or Carol Higgins Taylor a call at the agency.
Nancy Matulis mentioned that she and others were interested in being heard and wondered if there were other ways to know what was going on in Augusta. Noëlle explained that she and any others could contact Carol Higgins Taylor and be part of a list of seniors ready to call, write or speak publicly about any issues that may affect them in the future. She explained how important it is that legislators hear from seniors rather than just providers. She talked about the Maine Association of Area Agencies on Aging and their role in Augusta.
Paul Matulis confirmed that there is no longer a TRIAD in the Dover area. There was some discussion about transportation. Generally attendees were pleased to have a community café in their region and were all in favor of the adult day service that was being developed for the old Central Hall.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned for a lunch with a local Brownie troop.
Noëlle Merrill
Piscataquis Regional Advisory Council Meeting Minutes
Greenville Community Café
September 15, 2011
The meeting was called to order at 10:00 a.m. Guests In attendance were Vicky Canoe, Lorraine Servant, Dottie Gagne, Viola Woodward, Anna Huff and Jill Marie Grant. Staff attending was Noëlle Merrill and Theresa Boettner. Virginia Fortier, President of the EAAA Board of Directors was also in attendance.
The immediate concern of the group was that the meal site was going to be closed down. Noëlle explained that the Greenville site was guaranteed to remain open for the next year due to the efforts of a board member and the generosity of a local Greenville church. She explained that after the EAAA board heard a presentation about the challenges of maintaining the current nutrition program and planned cuts, Dr. Robert Veon asked what money was needed to keep the Greenville site open. Once he received the information, he went to Rockwood Community Church and asked for help for the site. They contributed $1,600, which was the difference between the cost of the meals and additional revenue needed.
Next the group discussed ways to attract more diners to the site. Noëlle suggested that a sandwich board sign on the main road might help attract new diners, since there were no signs anywhere. Another person suggested that channel 19 would be a good way to market the program. A volunteer said that her husband could make a sign to be placed out on the road regularly that could help attract new diners.
Therese Boettner talked about the homeshare program because the agency is seeing more potential help for people by sharing homes, at least in the winter.
The being no further business, the meeting adjourned for lunch in the dining room at 11:30 a.m.
Piscataquis Regional Advisory Council
Quarry Pines, Brownville, Maine
March 18, 2011
The meeting was called to order at 10:00 a.m. Staff, volunteers and former volunteers were in attendance. The group consisted of Noëlle Merrill (Executive Director), Virginia Fortier (EAAA Board President), Jane Fairchild (EAAA Board Member), Paul LeClair (Volunteer), Theresa Boettner (Staff), Barbara Wilbur (SHIP Volunteer), Valre Burgess (Resident of Quarry Pines), Robin Lyford (Staff), Gail Rush (Staff), Leslie Lizotte (Staff), Carla Greaney (Advisory Board member), Margaret Witham (Advisory Board member) and Betty Gould (Volunteer).
There was a discussion about how to be sure direct service volunteers have access to information about the agency and whatâs going on in much the same way staff get that information. Noëlle said that she would have an email distribution list set up for direct service volunteers with email addresses. She would send the monthly board report and itâs attachments to all volunteers as well as staff from now on.
Valre Burgess talked about how friendly neighbors are enabling her to be able to live on her own longer. She said they help her by giving her rides when she has appointments and rides for grocery shopping. She also has homemaker services through the state Independent Support Services that help her stay in her apartment and keep it clean and orderly. She doesnât know what will happen if she has to leave Quarry Pines, because she doesnât want to live in a nursing facility.
The discussion turned to ways that the elders of Piscatquis County can stay independent longer. The group thought that if there was a program to call older residents and the home bound who live alone, that this might help prolong a residentâs ability to stay independent for a longer time. Robin mentioned the program the meals program is using for connecting with people living on a discontinued meal home delivery route. Others thought that an expanded version of that program would benefit Piscataquis residents.
Participants also discussed transportation. They said that it was not easy to learn about what is available or to access it. When they call the Lynx, they are asked if they receive Mainecare. If they say no, then often that is the end of the call or they are referred to Eastern Area Agency on Aging. We tell them what to say, they call Penquis back and then they get a general public transit ride. Noëlle said she would contact Marcia Larkin about this and discuss how that might change. Noëlle mentioned that she was on the TIGER II advisory board, which is a major transportation study that is about to be launched through the Eastern Maine Development Corporation. The goal was to redesign transportation for the rural areas of Penobscot, Piscataquis, Hancock and Waldo counties. It was then suggested by attendees that if the money spent on transportation studies could be directed to actual transportation, there would probably be better transportation options.
There being no further discussion, the meeting was adjourned at noon.


text:
Lmfao's Redfoo and actress Rumer Willis are set to show off their fancy footwork alongside soul legend Patti Labelle as contestants on the upcoming season of Dancing With The Stars.
Veteran actress Suzanne Somers, The Hunger Games' Willow Shields, Glee actor Riker Lynch, model Charlotte McKinney, gold medal-winning Olympic gymnast Nastia Liukin and Michael Sam, the first openly-gay player in the National Football League (NFL), will also compete on the dancefloor on the 10th year of the reality show.
At 14, Shields will be the youngest-ever competitor on the programme.
During the big line-up reveal on breakfast show Good Morning America on Tuesday (24Feb15), cancer survivor Somers says, "This is my opportunity to see if all the hormones and vitamins I've been taking all these years really pay off, so we'll see!"
And Willis, the eldest daughter of Demi Moore and Bruce Willis, reveals her famous parents will be cheering her on all the way, adding, "They're really excited."
Dancing With the Stars' season 20 will kick off on 16 March (15).


text:
The Patriot Women's Soccer team earned a huge conference victory Saturday night, defeating the University of Pikeveille Bears by a 3-1 margin.
The match was a see-saw battle that saw the Patriots control play from the outset. For the first 35 minutes, St. Catharine dictated the tempo of play and held the vast majority of possession. 27 minutes into the game, Macy Higdon sent a corner kick into the box that was headed home with authority by Krista Russell to give the Patriots a 1-0 lead.
That lead, however, would not last long. Pikeville mounted a threat of their own and began to control play during the last 10 minutes of the half. In the 39th minute, Pikeville's Kaitlyn Abdon corralled an SC clear and sent a ball over the top of the Patriot defense. Carmen Koster ran onto and finished it to knot the score 1-1 at halftime.
The Bears came out with a fire in the second half and controlled the play early. They pressured the Patriot goal, looking to take the lead. St. Catharine weathered the storm and began to turn the tide after the first 10 minutes. Controlling the play again, the Patriots attacked the Pikeville goal relentlessly, taking a total of 26 shots with 14 on goal for the game. Pikeville managed 6 total shots with 5 on goal for the match, but only one in the second period. The breakthrough came for the Patriots with 14 minutes to play when Kelsey Pendleton slotted a ball through to Sara Herbert, who put the ball away for what would be the winning score.
Trailing 2-1, the Bears would push most of their players forward in an attempt to even the score late. The Patriots got an insurance goal for the 3-1 victory with 3 minutes remaining when Krista Russell scored her second of the match and 44th of her career off an assist from Mallory Arneson.
The win moves the Patriots record to 5-2-2 for the season and 3-1-0 in the Mid South Conference. The three conference wins sets a new record for single season wins in the MSC for Patriot Women's Soccer. Next up, the Patriots travel to Campbellsville for a 6pm match on Tuesday, October 2nd.


text:
Know more about this business than we do? Cool! Please submit any corrections or missing details you may have.Help us make it right
Be the first cleveland.com user to add photos or videos of White Roofing & Lumber Company
White Roofing & Lumber Co is located at 30 Benedict Ave, Norwalk, OH. This business specializes in Lumber and Roof Contractors.


text:
Practical ways to live better on less.
A smoothie bought at one of the chain smoothie shops (Jamba Juice, Planet Smoothie) often comes at a high price. Unfortunately, the high price does not necessarily mean quality ingredients. You can make your own customizable smoothie at home using organic fruit and high quality protein, and still spend much less money.
I used to make my smoothies using Greek yogurt, however, since transitioning to a vegan diet, I decided to try coconut milk. You can also use rice or almond (I try to avoid soy, but you can use this too if you like). Take a look at my protein packed smoothie recipe below.
1 cup of So Delicious Organic Vanilla Coconut Milk (or regular yogurt)
1/2 cup of yogurt (I use So Delicious plain)
1 cup of water
1 cup of frozen organic mixed berries (I prefer to use the mixed berry medley from Trader Joe's but feel free to use whatever you like).
1 tablespoon of chia seeds (found at any health food store)
1 scoop of Plant Fusion protein powder (available at Whole Foods and other health food stores)
*Feel free to adjust the water and milk levels to your desired consistency
*If you don't like fruit, substitute a tablespoon of cocoa powder. This makes for a delicious milkshake like taste.
This smoothie recipe is so delicious! As an added bonus, it is much cheaper & healthier than getting a smoothie out. Sure the ingredients cost a bit upfront, but you can keep making smoothies all week long.
This recipe is packed with healthy ingredients: plenty of plant protein from the powder, omega's from the chia seeds, and antioxidants from the fruit. The coconut milk provides the perfect base for a creamy delicious treat. The coconut milk substitution makes it a great alternative to those going dairy free. The Plantfusion powder is easy to digest (no stomach problems like whey protein).
Works great post-workout recovery snack or as a mid morning pick up!
Try it out and let me know what you think!
What do you think?
Share your thoughts below


text:
The Fire Department is preparing to deactivate its street alarm boxes throughout New York City as a way to save money.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg included the idea in his January budget proposal.
Fire Commissioner Salvatore Cassano told the City Council on Wednesday that it would save $6 million in the first fiscal year.
He says the move was attempted in the 1990s. But it was thwarted by those who argued people with disabilities needed alarm boxes to call 911. They got a court injunction to stop it.
The fire commissioner says technological gains like mobile phones have eliminated that concern.
The city would have to convince the court that blind and deaf people have other means to report fires.